Saving On Our Own | Book 1

Chapter 3

You and Wanda swiftly move down the stairs as you pull your hair down from its messy bun. You both walk into the conference room and sit in the two empty chairs. Your father comes up behind you. "Hey sweetheart." He says kissing your cheek, I thought you'd be in Queens already?"

"Hadn't had the chance to leave yet." You didn't get a chance to say anything else as the Secretary of State begins to speak.

"Five years ago, I had a heart attack and dropped right in the middle of my backswing. Turned out it was the best round of my life because after the thirteen hours of surgery and a triple bypass I had found something forty years in the Army had never taught me. Perspective. The world owes the Avengers an unplayable debt. You have fought for us, protected us, risked your lives, or your own daughter's life in Mr. Starks case, but while a great many people see you as heroes there are some who prefer the word 'vigilante.'"

"And what word would you use, Mr. Secretary?" Nat asks, interruptions Secretary Ross.

"How about 'dangerous'? What would you call a group of US-based, enhanced individuals who routinely ignore sovereign borders and inflict there will where they choose and whom, frankly, seem unconcerned about what the leave behind?" He questions them. The Avengers sit quietly as Secretary Ross moves to the side of the scree and a world map zooms in on New York City. "New York." Clips of the Hulk smashing into buildings comes up on the screen. The team sits and watches as the scene plays out. "Washington DC." Clips of the city in flames flashes. Some of the Avengers look down and away from the screens. "Sokovia." A clip of half the city being lifted out of the ground comes up. Wanda watches in sadness as the video from the day her brother died plays before her. You watch as you see how much damage is caused by the team. Tony glances up every few seconds, but his eyes stay trained on his hands or his daughter as he can tell she's crying, just as she did for weeks after these events happened. "Lagos." They see the building that the human bomb set off. People injured, or dead being pulled out. Wanda finally turns away with tears in her eyes and you quickly leave the room.

"Okay that's enough." Steve strictly says. "Tony if you could go get y/n so that way we can finish this." Steve turns to look at Tony who's already out the door.

As Tony looks for you, the sounds of your crying get louder. He walks farther only to find you in a sitting area. "Sweetheart?"

"Dad?" You get up and run into his arms. You bury your head in his neck, crying, as he hugs you.

"Shhh. Its okay. Its okay." As soon as you started to calm down Tony walks you back to the conference room and sits you in the chair, but he doesn't move from your side. Secretary Ross continues speaking.

"But I think we have a solution." Ross sets an inch-thick book down on the table and slides it towards Wanda. "The Sokovia Accords." Wanda passes it to you and you speed read through it. "Approved by 117 countries, it states that..." He goes to say what it ways, but you cut him off.

"That the Avengers won't be a private organization. Instead we'll operate under the supervision of a United Nations panel only when and if that panel thinks it's necessary." You state from memory.

"The Avengers were formed to make the World a safer place. I feel we've done that." Steve says to Ross.

"Tell me, Captain, do you know were Thor and Banner are right now?" Steve looks to Ross. "If I missed place a couple of thirty megaton nukes you can bet there'd be consequences. Compromise. Reassurance. That's how the world works. Believe me, this is the middle ground."

"So, there are contingencies."

"Three days from now, the UN meets in Vienna to ratify the Accords." Steve looks to Tony who looks to his daughter then makes eye contact with Steve before averting his gaze. "Talk it over."

Secretary Ross begins to leave bu Nat stops him. "And if we come to a decision you don't like?"

"Then you retire."